Santon having Napoli medical

The few time Italian international is about to join the partenopei

Davide Santon is undergoing his medical examinations ahead of a widely reported €6 million move to Napoli.

TuttoMercatoWeb underline that the defender will sign his contract, elsewhere reported as being worth five millions to him over five years as soon as the medical is complete. The official confirmation could come today or in the coming days.

The 25-year-old, in his second spell with Inter, is now clearly viewed as surplus to requirements by the nerazzurri who have recruited two new full backs in Caner Erkin and Cristian Ansaldi ahead of the new season. Santon had opportunities to impress last year but was unable to rekindle form that earned him his Premier League move to Newcastle back in 2011. Santon returned to Inter intially on loan before the move was made permanent for round about €5 million.

Settling for next best option?

Napoli, as with the rest of Serie A missed out on star attraction Sime Vrsaljko of Sassuolo who had been a long term target for many clubs in Italy joined Champions League runners up Atletico Madrid. It would appear however that Santon's ability to play on either side of the defence as well as having the capability to play on the wing persuaded Maurizio Sarri to move for him over other possibilities.

Vrsaljko fends of a Hellas Verona player in pursuit of the ball | Photo: Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

Vrsaljko forever impressed for Sassuolo and a bigger move was almost certain this summer after the neroverdi managed to keep a hold of him in the January mercato despite huge interest.

Santon, however is arguably an upgrade on Juan Camilo Zuniga, who left the San Paolo earlier this week for Watford in the Premier League. Santon had also been linked with a move to Watford but the move eventually broke down as did a move to Sunderland.